This Friday, November 5, 2021, John Zarco answered questions from journalists from the Algarve International Autodrome in Portimão, at the end of the first day of the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve.
We went to listen (via teleconference software) to the words of the French driver who moved up to 4th place in the championship and hopes to confirm this once again upward trend in Portugal.
As usual, we report here the words of John Zarco without the slightest formatting, even if it is partially translated (vouvoiement in English, tutoiement in French).
Johann zarco : " Good morning ! It was a good first day for me. From the first session in the morning, the adaptation to the track was good, and it was also good to feel pleasure on the track, more than the last time in the dry. So I was happy with that and I was quite impressed by a few riders who made good improvements, as well as the fast riders who were very fast at the start of the year and who I think have raised the level again: Fabio and Pecco were very impressive again! It's also a good challenge to understand things to be even faster. In the afternoon, with the soft tires, you take a step forward like everyone else. I couldn't do it straight away and had to do a few laps with the tires to feel the confidence, so I think we have some work to be quicker to get the tire working on the first lap. »
With such a long season, do we feel a kind of weariness, physical or mental, or do we leave as fresh and motivated for each race?
« I think it is possible to have fun during the 20 weekends and to have good energy at all the races. It's a rhythm to find on the circuits and at home, in order to appreciate everything and always have the right energy. But I think sometimes when there are back-to-back races, or a race then a test then a race, you feel like you're a little tired. In this kind of period, you can perhaps feel tired, but on a regular rhythm of racing weekends, one week yes, one week no, I think it is possible as a young man to have new energy to each Grand Prix. »
You say that Fabio and Pecco have raised the level, especially today. Are you wasting time with them and in particular with Pecco?
« I think Pecco and Fabio are two very strong braking boys. They are capable of being very strong in this area, but without missing the turn (laughs). I would say it's a plus that they understood very well. »
It looks like Casey Stoner gave some advice to the Ducati riders today. Did you have some too?
« I didn't hear why Casey was there. Is he going to roll? I met him when I started in MotoGP in 2017, in February during the winter tests in Malaysia, and we talked a little at the bar because I was then a fan of all the MotoGP riders as I moved from Moto2 to MotoGP. This is the moment when I was able to share the most things with him. I haven't seen it here yet and just saw a photo with the factory riders, but it has too much natural feeling and for him to slide with the bike and be fast is normal! So it's difficult to talk because for him it's like just walking, whereas for others it's not (laughs). »
Yesterday, you said you wanted to aim for a good place but without taking all the risks to continue to score points in the championship. Did this day meet your expectations?
« In terms of strategy, you have to be on top all the time. This is the difficulty of the category. But I'm quite happy with the tests because I still had good feelings on the bike and really a good outlook for progressing tomorrow. It's going pretty well, I'm not over-driving for the moment and I like doing it like that, if I can progress because I'm not in front either: we see that even the contenders with whom I was competing for places championship, Miller and Mir, attacked hard today, because they are not going to give up their place like that. Me neither ! So a good fight, but the first day was interesting to make progress tomorrow. »
In terms of settings and sensations, are you close to the race that took place in April?
« Simply for the track conditions, it's cooler, and this coolness sometimes hits me quickly because I always have a little more apprehension about the tires. And I would say that there is also a little less grip on the rear, precisely because of this freshness. But I believe that Bagnaia and Fabio are already going faster (than last time) in FP1 and FP2, so that they manage to be better or perhaps that this freshness gives them more confidence. For me, it was the opposite, so I hope to pass this milestone tomorrow on the bike to earn a good 5/10. It would be good. »
Overall, you have tried throughout the year to gain confidence going forward. Do you sense any progress in this direction?
« Whether with settings like those in April or the settings that we modified in the last races to always learn things, yes, I still find that I have better use of the bike. That's why doing everything the way I knew how to do before is no longer possible, because I've started to change something to become better and I don't want to let go. And there, it's good to come back to the correct places to play the game. So yes, there is still progress. I (X?) even more things compared to the beginning. »
Can you explain more about what you're doing differently that's stopping you from going back?
« No. I don't want to because it's too technical and that's my vision of things. So I don't want to share it too much. »
MotoGP Algarve Grand Prix FP2 results in Portimão:
Credit Ranking: motogp.com
